Automatic apparatus for feeding crowns or closures.



I N0. 643,973. 1 Patented Feb. 20, I900; W. PAINTER &. J. T. HAWKINS.

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING BROWNS 0R QLUSURES.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1898.) (N9 Model.) 3 Shea-tsSheet l.

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Patented'Feb. 20, I900."

(No Model.)

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1898.)

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CROWNS 0R CLOSUBES.

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cams PETER coy. rnoruum "wwqmm'o I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PAINTER AND JOHN T. HAWKINS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AS- SIGNORS TO THE CROWN, CORK AND SEAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CROWNS OR CLOSURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,973, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed November 26, 1898. Serial No. 697,524. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM PAINTER and JOHN T. HAWKINS, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Feeding Crowns or Closures, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to automatic apparatus for feeding crowns or closures to bottle sealing machines and is designed as an improvement over the feeding mechanism shown in an application filed by William Painter October 28, 1898, Serial No. 694,805.

The invention includes a hopper and feeding-chute to direct the crowns or closures to the sealing mechanism and an independent cage and selecting device rotating therewith adapted to receive the crowns or closures from the hopper and properly direct them to the chute.

The invention also includes many details of construction, all of which tend to simplify the apparatus and make its operation less complex than in the feeding mechanism in the application referred to.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 1 is a detail. Fig. 2 is a front elevation with the front plate and ring removed in the left-hand half and parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 a rear elevation. Fig. 5 shows two views of a detail.

The present invention, relating only to the feeding mechanism, does not include the sealing devices, which may be of the'form shown in the Painter application referred to or of any improved construction; but for convenience we'have shown the invention in connection with a part of the supporting and sealing mechanism of the application aforesaid.

E. The hopper has an inclined thin sheetmetal diaphragm e ,forming the bottom thereof, which cuts off access from the body of the hopper to the working parts below and leads the contained crowns through the opening e to the chamber E and the mechanism hereinafter described. The partition c has formed upon its outer side a hub e Upon an upward extension of the bracket 0 is another hub 0 and within these hubs is journaled a shaft f, which passes freely through a hole in the diaphragm e Secured by a key f to the end of shaft f adjoining the bracket-hub c is a flanged collar f Secured in the inner face of the collar f is a steel ring f having one or more conical recesses in its face. A spur-gear f, rotating freely upon the hub of collar f carries a sliding pin f whose conical end enters the corresponding conical recesses in the steel ring f and is held therein by a spring f screw f and nut f The function of the sliding pin f is to release the shaft f and its attached mechanism from rotation in case of any accidental obstruction, and thus prevent breakage of the parts. The compressive resistance given the spring f determines the resistance which may be offered to the rotation of shaft f before the spur-gear f will rotate upon the hub of collar f With anything less than this resistance the shaft f and its attached mechanism will be rotated by means of the spur-gear f. Upon a stud g, secured in the bracket 0, runs freely a spurgear g, engaging the spur-gear f. Secured to the gear g is a bevel-gear g engaging the bevel-gear d, and this gear is rotated through the rotation of the hollow column 19, carrying head I), the motion being finally communicated to the shaft f.

The auxiliary chamber E forms a cylindrical receptacle for the crowns as they pass from the hopper 9 through the opening e This chamber has a door h in the lower side, through which to remove the crowns when necessary to clear out the apparatus. The chamber has a cylindrical outer flange h, and secured thereto is a ring k so formed as to provide a channel-way it between it and the flange h, in which the crowns may freely circulate after passing into it. This channelway 7L3 passes around to the right in Fig. 2 until it debouches into a reverse curve h, leading into the curved chute 7L5, which ends opposite the throats of the sealing-heads 11 The reverse curve 71 of channel-way 71/3 is formed by a block 2', let into and closing the channel-way 7L3. Pivoted at 2" is a swivel-door forming a continuation of the block 11. The upper end of the swivel-door 2' is given such inclination that in case a crown should reach it without having fully dropped back out of the channel-way 71 the door will either force it back or open and allow the misplaced crown to be thrown out. The door 71 is frictionally held in position by a spring i recessed into it. Thus from the inclined top of the door 11 around to the right, Fig. 2, to the reverse curve 72 the crowns can pass freely, but at no other part of the circle. The ring 71 is perforated with holes it, through which to observe the passage of the crowns.

Secured to shaftfis a front plate is, which is perforated with holes preferably in a double row, also for observation of the contained crowns. Secured to the front plate 70 is a selecting-ri n g k having at regular intervals upon its face, adjoining the front plate, projections 70 and pins 7.2 These projections and pins are of such proportions and spacing, as shown in plan and edge View, Fig. 5, that a crown cannot pass when presented, as shown at I, because of the flange of the crown being of larger diameter than the width of the passage between the projections 70 but if presented as shown at 1 they can freely pass out into the channel 71 or from the channel its back again into the interior of tlie cage formed by the front plate 7.5 and the selectingring M, which will hereinafter be designated as the cage. On the back of selecting-ring k is secured a series of agitating-ribs 70' for the purpose of agitating the mass of crowns which gravitate through the opening 6 and cause them to fall through the circular opening in the selecting-ring 70 into the cage.

m is a pendulum swinging freely on the shaft f and held in position thereon by the hub 70 of the front plate 70 and the hub 6 which carries the front end of the shaft 7a. The function of this pendulum is to prevent one or more of the crowns from entering between the front plate 76 and selecting-ring 70 superimposed upon one another, so as to become wedged in that position, in the taper space between the front plate 70 and the selecting-ring k dulum m knocks them free either by remainingin the vertical position shown or as carried upward by the mass of crowns surrounding its free end and falling back from time to time, thus dislodging any collection of crowns which may become wedged, as heretofore explained.

o is a spring, with a V-shaped part upon its free end protruding through a suitable opening in the ring 7L2, as shown where broken away in Fig. 2. The function of this spring When such occurs, this penis in case two crowns approach it in some such position as is shown in dotted circles 19 p, Fig. 2, in which the crown 19 is prevented from passing out into the channel its by one, as 9, already there, the spring 0 will be forced outward until the crown 10 has passed its apex, when its outer inclined surface will shoot the crown 9 ahead to drop into the next opening back into the cage, and thus release the crown p to similarly drop back.

We do not confine ourselves to a strictlyvertical plane for the rotating selecting-cage and its surrounding delivery-channel, as this form of apparatus may perform its functions if situated in any plane deviating from the vertical not too greatly to obstruct the operation of gravity upon the crowns or closures in their several passages from the hopper to the sealing-throats.

The crowns being placed indiscriminately in the hopper 6 will gravitate down the inclined diaphragm c through the opening 6 and collect in a mass in the chamber E, the quantity being decided-by. the size and form of the opening 0, the crowns lying against the inner surface of the cage. If this surface were smooth, the mass of crowns would thus lie indefinitely; but the agitators k constantly lift a portion of them high enough to fall over the edge of the selecting-ring 70 into the cage formed by it and the front plate 70, which is immediately replaced by others from the hopper e. If the quantity falling into the cage is greater than that passing out into the channel 71.3, the mass of crowns resting against the inside of the selecting-ring will rise to such a level both inside and outside of the cage that no more can pass from the hopper 6 through the opening 0 The cage rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, and all crowns presenting themselves properly to the openings leading to the channel It will pass through into it after said openings have passed the point 8, Fig. 2. All those occupying the pockets or passages before arriving at the point 3 cannot pass out into the channel 713, since the channel h is filled at this part of its circumference by the block 1' and hinged door 2. As the cage revolves, however, the properly presented crowns will pass out into the channel h by gravitation any where after passing the point 8 up to the position at the right, where gravitation can no longer so act upon them. Any crowns remaining in the passage or pockets of the cage which have not fallen out into the channel h because already filled, or partially so, will, upon being carried above a horizontal line through the center of the shaft f, fall back again into the cage; also, all such crowns as may be presented to the passages in the wrong position to pass through, as shown at Z, Fig. 5, will similarly fall back again into the cage. All such upon being returned to the mass in the cage will by its rotation be tumbled about until finally they must be presented in the proper position, and thus all crowns put in the hopper e finally find their way into the channel k When the channel 71 up to the horizontal line and the chute 7& down to the throat b are full, no crowns can pass from the revolving cageinto the channel h and will only do so as the passage of crowns into the throats b makes room for them at the top by the descent of the column. The speed and parts are so proportioned that there will always be more crowns ready to pass into the channel 71 than will be required by the maximum demand for them at the throats bflwhile the opening 6 is so proportioned that the cage can never fill so full as to interfere with the tumbling operation required to reverse those which at first present themselves at the passage in the wrong position to pass out into the channel h In this way the machine may be run continuously and always compensate the supply of crowns to any spasmodic or intermittent operation of the sealing apparatus below.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. In an automatic feeding apparatus for crown bottle-closures, a rotating selectingcage having one side closed, adapted to receive the crowns or closures,ahopper communicating with the cage, through a central opening in the opposite side, said cage having in its periphery suitably-formed passages so that the crowns or closures can pass therethrough in one position only, said cage by its rotation causing the contained crowns or closures to be tumbled and changed in position therein until they are ultimately all presented to said passage in the required position to pass out into a surrounding channelway, substantially as described 2. In an automatic feeding apparatus for bottle-sealing machines, a hopper for the indiscriminate reception of'the crowns or closures, a chamber external to said hopper, an

inclined bottom to said hopper adapted to lead the closures to said external chamber and a receptacle or cage rotating within said external chamber, having one side closed and a central opening in the side adjoining said hopper, adapted to receive the crowns or closures indiscriminately from the hopper, and containing in its periphery suitably-formed passages such that the crowns or closures can pass therethrough in one position only; where by, by the tumbling action of said cage the crowns or closures are changed in position therein until they present themselves in proper position to pass through said passages into a surrounding channel-way,substantially as described.

3., In an automatic feeding apparatus for bottle-sealingmachines,avertically-arranged hopper, a cylindrical chamber external thereto, a freely-rotating chamber or cage having one side closed and a central opening in the side adjoining the hopper, adapted to receive the crowns or closures indiscriminately from the hopper and by its rotation tumble said crowns or closures therein until by constant change of position they are all presented to suitably-formed passages in the periphery of said rotating chamber or cage so as to pass therethrough in one position only, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic feeding apparatus for closures for bottle-sealing machines, a selecting-cage and a pendulum adapted to prevent wedging of the closures, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we alfix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM PAINTER. JOHN T. HAWKINS. 

